Washington tree cutter contacts power line, dies

NEWPORT, Wash. — The Pend Oreille County sheriff's office says a man cutting firewood in northeast Washington has died after his chainsaw apparently cut into a live power line.

KHQ-TV reports that Pend Oreille Public Utility District workers found the body after responding Wednesday to a report of a tree leaning on a power line.

The sheriff's office says it appears that 59-year-old Walter Richard Rohrer III was cutting firewood and had cut a tree that landed on a power line. When he tried to cut the tree away from the line he apparently accidentally cut into the live wire, electrocuting himself.

PUD workers made the area off Calispel Trail Loop Road safe enough so emergency personnel could get to the body. The man was dead at the scene.